Originally published on The Other (OtherReport.com) 6.13.2016
“This is the perfect symbolic ending to the Democratic Party primary: The nomination is consecrated by a media organization, on a day when nobody voted, based on secret discussions with anonymous establishment insiders and donors whose identities the media organization — incredibly — conceals.” - Glenn Greenwald - The Intercept
The Associated Press’ premature coronation of Secretary Clinton exposed the establishment’s greatest fear: Californians granting Sanders a mandate for mayhem at the DNC Convention. But they’ve successfully muted Sanders. Indeed, it’s only a matter of weeks or even days before he endorses Clinton and capitulates to the tiresome “lesser of two evils” narrative. Sanders deserves credit for his campaign of insurgency, but as he repeated speech after speech, this movement doesn’t belong to him. It belongs to us.
As owners of the political revolution, it is our responsibility to continue building an unapologetic Democratic Socialist bloc to disrupt the two-party system. Our first step is to coalesce around the most audacious woman in national politics: Dr. Jill Stein.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School and an environmental health advocate, Dr. Stein experienced first-hand how moneyed interests defeat common-sense public policy. Before running for governor against Mitt Romney in 2002, Stein campaigned as an ardent Democrat to pass the Clean Election Law in Massachusetts. The law allowed statewide candidates who forgo most private donations to use public money to run their campaigns. The state Democratic majority legislature actively repealed the law. Soon after, Stein left the party for good.
As a Green Party presidential candidate, Stein is unquestionably asolutions oriented contender. On climate change, the most immediate threat to the nation, Stein outlines an ambitious and detailed “Green New Deal.” The Green New deal which calls for a “WWII-scale national mobilization to halt climate change,” stimulates employment in the process. On education, she doubles down on Sanders’ call to make higher education tuition free; arguing to cancel all $1.3 trillion of existing student-debt before it causes the next financial crisis. Price tag? Less than the 2001 tax cuts, the ten-year cost of offshore tax loopholes, or the Iraq War.
Dr. Stein’s foreign policy doctrine can best be described as anti-imperialist. She calls for a vast reduction in the defense budget, an end to unilateral military interventions, and the demilitarization of the US-Mexico border. Tougher on Israel, she promises to “end US policies that have supported the worst tendencies of the Israeli government in its treatment of the people of Palestine.” The national stage requires an anti-war voice to combat the military industrial complex and the surveillance state.
The terror of a Trump administration must not discourage support for a third party. Aligning with Kissinger’s protege out of fear concedes that the exploitation and suffering of foreign civilians is less important than personal protection. Is it not hypocritical to express sympathy to Central American or Syrian refugees but vote for the person who orchestrated regime change in the regions? If we embrace neo-liberalism at the first sign of fascism, we have no right to this fight.
As Sanders has admitted, any third party challenger from the Left will immediately be branded as a spoiler. While some argue that the onus lies with the Democratic candidate to make a compelling case, others theorize that third party candidates would have abstained rather than vote for one of the establishment choices anyway. Either theory conveniently absolves an alternative campaign of unintended consequences. Let’s admit it. If Stein gains traction, it’s safe to assume the Republicans will win.
Embracing the spoiler label might actually be a smart strategy. The Green Party is mischaracterized as an assembly of weak, naive amateurs and idealists. An industrious, unyielding, and well organized campaign would help rebrand the Green Party as a viable alternative for future elections in the long term. In the short term, it may force real progressive concessions by the Clinton campaign.
Should the Green Party play a large role in this election, it will become a force to be reckoned with. After all, progressive Democrats need a dancing partner since the GOP has adopted obstructionism as its default stance. Likewise labor, environmental, and immigration activists need a new home. Bernie’s campaign is evidence that competitive funds can be raised independent of corporate PAC money. In short, a Green alternative is possible.
But it is not enough to simply vote Green. To borrow from the DNC, we need unity. Despite good intentions of Socialist Alternative’s Kshama Sawant (and to some extent Stein), it’s time to abandon the courtship of Bernie Sanders. Instead, appeal to his supporters and sympathetic organizations. Smaller parties of the Left see the Greens as a less dogmatic group unworthy of their allegiance, so they are hesitant to join.
If it’s the luxury of protesting without the burden of effectiveness, then continue to fight alone. But if it’s an attachment to Marxist ideals that fuel tribalism, then incorporate said ideals into the Green Party’s official platform. View the Green Party as an opportunity to build a robust solidarity network, and trust that the Democratic Party platform will never be as malleable even if it has Cornel West on the committee.
Once united, the Left can immediately put its full resources behind Jill Stein. Getting her on the ballot in every state is the first priority which can offer a string of small victories to bolster the campaign. If a strong ground game can be organized in key states she may be able to help down ticket Greens win local contests. The next priority is a hybrid of traditional campaigning and a social media blitz to catapult Stein’s popularity over Johnson of the Libertarians. The alternative campaign will be more lethal to the establishment if it comes from the Left.
Even if all goes according to plan, still expect defeat. Unless two or three other independent candidates enter the race it is nearly impossible for the Greens to break the two-party stranglehold on the White House. Draconian voter suppression and election “irregularities” will be rampant. The assault will come from every direction, including Bernie Sanders himself.
Make no mistake, Bernie Sanders has become one of the most prolific and influential figures in American history. His life’s work of social and economic justice will forever be accredited for waking up the masses to the corruption infecting America. No one can take that away, but this is not about the man. This is about the ideas.
Bernie’s revolution will die if left in the hands of President Clinton or President Trump. Our last hope for survival is to build a real political threat they simply cannot ignore. This is not a choice between the lesser of two evils. This is mutually assured destruction. Resist.